SJFP merges with NRP but will preserve its party name for now ... just in case

SJFP merges with NRP

27 May 2007
By Keo Pech Metta
Radio Free Asia (a station labeled insolent by Hun Sen)
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prince Sisowath Thomico, the delegate-general of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party, said on 27 May that his party is announcing the transfer of his party members to the NRP, with the aim of uniting royalists.

The prince added that as a first phase of the merger between the two parties, the SJFP leadership will be integrated into the NRP structure, and SJFP members at the local levels will be integrated into the NRP next.

Prince Thomico said: “It’s certain that the integration of the SJFP into the NRP is a first step. Next, we must unite with another royalist party: the Funcinpec, for example. When the royalist families are united again, then we must do all we can to unite with other parties which follow a policy … in order to provide hope to the Cambodian people. In the future, we will organize our country and nation in a manner that will be different from the current governing system.”

Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said that the merger of the SJFP and the NRP is an idea of Prince Ranariddh, NRP president, because the latter prince wants to unite all the royalists with the aim of competing in the upcoming 2008 general election also.

Mutch Chantha said: “The gathering of the external forces is a goal of any political party. Furthermore, for this gathering of forces, we mainly aim it towards the royalists, those who love royalism, and all the democrats. I am stressing that this opening is not just for this time only, it will be pursued into the future as well, we will welcome members of the Funcinpec party who used to support Prince Ranariddh when he was Funcinpec historical president, and the prince welcomes with great happiness all members who want to participate in the royalist family under the aegis of the NRP.”

Prince Thomico noted that even though the SJFP merges with the NRP, the name of the SJFP will still be preserved in the Ministry of Interior register, the only difference is that, now, SJFP will no longer conduct any activity. This preservation is done just in case something would happen to the NRP in the future, then at that time, the SJFP will become active again.

CPP welcomes new political parties ... but says these parties will encourage the CPP to work harder

Monday, May 28, 2007
CPP welcomes new political parties

Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

With the merger of Prince Thomico’s Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party (SJFP) with the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) on 27 May 2007, a CPP official welcomes the formation of this new political party. Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, said that the CPP welcomes the formation of several new political parties because these parties will encourage the ruling CPP party to work harder. Khieu Kanharith said that the CPP has already established alliances with some 30 small political parties. Chiem Yeap, a CPP MP, also said that he is not surprised about any formation of an opposition alliance. Chiem yeap told The Cambodia Daily that the CPP is the party that will always win the elections. He also noted that the NRP did not win any commune chief position. He added that because people trust the government policy, this was the reason why the people always vote for his CPP party.

Two Cambodian royalist parties decide to merge

May 28, 2007

Two major royalist parties of Cambodia have decided to merge for victory in the 2008 election, senior officials said here on Sunday.

"The Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party (SJF) has decided to merge with the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) for our victory in the general election in 2008," SJF President and Prince Sisowath Thomico told about 500 party members in its extraordinary congress.

The merge will protect the democratic monarch, the rule of law and the independence of territory, and provide stronger voice for both parties in the general election, he said.

The two parties will merge from the grass root level to the top level, a senior SJF member told Xinhua, adding that the SJF members will join the NRP.

"I will become the second vice-president of NRP," Thomico said, adding that the SJF still remains as a political party barely with any members now, but it will have next generation leaders to succeed him.

The congress played a video tape that Ranariddh recorded in Malaysia, saying that the merge will strengthen the power of the royalists for success in the 2008 election.

Ranariddh was ousted from the co-ruling Funcinpec Party in October 2006 and then established NRP. He stayed overseas ever since.

He was sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail earlier this year for pocketing party money when he headed Funcinpec.

NRP has been soliciting a royal pardon, without which the prince can't restart his political life.

Source: Xinhua